Victor Emanuel Durling
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Not known |
| Place of Birth | Meopham, Gravesend, Kent, England |
| Death | 10 Jan 1937 |
| Place of Death | Gravesend, Kent, England |
| Age at Enlistment | 27 years, 5 months |
| Description | 5"7 ½" (1.71m) tall; weight 137 lbs (62.1 kg); fair complexion, grey blue eyes, fair hair |
| Occupation | carpenter |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- Post Office, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father Mr Albert Durling |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3318 |
| Date of Enlistment | 26 Jul 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement transferred to 51st Battalion / 13th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 2 Nov 1915 - 26 Nov 1915 to Port Suez |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A38 Ulysses |
| Date of Return | 5 Feb 1918 - 8 Apr 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Llanstephan Castle |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 10 Jul 1916 at Poziéres Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Kelmscott War Memorial (West panel) Jarrahdale Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Victor was still living with his family in England at the time of the 1911 census, being the oldest of 7 children ranging in age from 7 to 24. He was described as a carpenter working for a builder.
Victor is named in a UK Outwards Bound list of passengers on the migrant ship SS Orsova (Orient Line) that departed London for Fremantle, Australia on 2 Aug 1912. Listed as aged 24, a carpenter, intending to reside in Australia. The matching immigration sheet for Fremantle shows that the Orsova arrived in Fremantle on 3 Sep 1912. Stops on the way included Toulon, Naples and Colombo.
War Service
Following the formation of the 51st Battalion in Egypt and its initial training they made the journey from Alexandria to Marseilles in the HMT Ivernia during June 1916.
Entering the front lines for the first time in early July Victor was wounded by shellfire, with injuries to his right hand and arm. He was one of 6 casualties that resulted from intermittent shelling before his company rotated out of the front line in the Petillon Sector.
Victor was wounded in his unit's first time in the line and before the Australian Army's first major battle in France. Treated by 15th Field Ambulance and the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, he also spent time in the 8th Stationery Hospital prior to embarking on the HS Jan Breydel in Boulogne for transit to England where he entered the General Military Hospital in Colchester for corrective treatment.
While in depot units waiting to find out if he was to be sent back to France he committed 2 AWOL offences totalling 50 days absence, 34 days confinement and the loss of 139 day's pay . Sent back to Australia due to his injuries, and discharged by 5th Military District on 4 Jul 1918.
Sunday Times 6 Aug 1916 p.9S lists Victor as wounded. The next week's issue corrects this to read, wounded, seriously.
Post War
In 1925 he had moved back to England and requested that his medals be forwarded to him there (Gravesend). At the time of his death his address was 37 Stanbrook-road Northfleet, Kent, but his place of death was the Gravesend and North Kent Hospital.
His will was probated on 19 February 1937, and he left £516 2s. 4d. to his wife Alice.
References